Harmful Algal Blooms Observing System (HABSOS) [Image courtesy of NOAA Coastal Data Development Center]
Within the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem, Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are significant features that have been reported since the first Spanish explorations of the region. NOAA's Harmful Algal Blooms Observing System (HABSOS) states that naturally occurring microscopic algae, called phytoplankton, are common in coastal waters. Phytoplankton are so small that 1000 individuals could fit on the head of a pin. Occasionally, phytoplankton grow explosively creating something called a "bloom." These organisms can be so numerous that they color the water red, hence the term "red tide." Scientists, however, prefer the term "harmful algal bloom," or HAB for short, because blooms can also be other colors, such as brown, or accumulate in numbers that affect shellfish yet do not discolor the water.
Toxins introduced into the ecosystem by a HAB event can seriously affect the health of both people and marine life, as well as disrupt local and regional economies. People can become ill when contaminated shellfish are eaten or when they breathe HAB-laden aerosols near the beach. HAB events can result in the closure of beaches and shellfish beds, massive fish kills, death of marine mammals and seabirds, and alteration of marine habitats. As a consequence, HAB events adversely affect commercial and recreational fishing, tourism, and valued habitats, creating a significant impact on local economies and coastal residents.
Coastal managers and researchers are challenged to monitor, assess and forecast these events in an effort to work towards minimizing the impacts. The HABSOS website is a regional, web-based data and information dissemination tool. HABSOS provides a secure data entry tool for collection of cell count observations of the algal species Karenia brevis and near real-time and historical data on these Harmful Algal Blooms.
|